Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Standard-Speaker on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at standardspeaker.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, activate your all access, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

Article Tools

A 17-year-old Sugarloaf girl reported missing to state police at Hazleton on Monday morning has been found.

Troopers, in a press release issued Wednesday, said Casey M. McCoy returned home safely, though did not specify the date or time she arrived home.

Police said Monday that McCoy took the bus to school that morning but never entered the building and was last seen in the area of 19th and Rose streets in Hazle Township.

Hazleton man faces drug charges

A 20-year-old Hazleton man faces charges for allegedly selling marijuana on the campus of Penn State Hazleton.

Brett Edward Williams was charged by Sugarloaf Township police with delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

He was arraigned Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Joseph A. Halesey, Wilkes-Barre, who set bail at $15,000 unsecured.

Township police said they and Penn State police learned that Williams was selling marijuana on the campus and on Dec. 3 officers arranged to purchase about 21 grams from him for about $260, court papers state. The transaction was completed just before 9 p.m. and Williams was taken into custody shortly thereafter when police stopped his vehicle on state Route 93, court papers state.

Asleep at wheel, man crashes on I-81

A Scranton man fell asleep behind the wheel of his pickup truck early Wednesday morning, causing the vehicle to crash, on Interstate 81 in Mahanoy Township, state police at Frackville said.

Frank Politz III fell asleep as he was traveling south in the right lane and drove off the east side of I-81. The vehicle hit a guide rail at mile-marker 129.2 with its front end, then traveled about 50 feet before it spun clockwise and stopped after traveling down a slight embankment in the center median, police said.

Politz wasn't injured but will be cited for careless driving, police said. His vehicle was towed.

Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call troopers at 570-459-3890.

Police charge man in connection with copper theft

A second man has been charged in connection to copper pipe stolen from a Hazleton apartment building Sept. 26.

Matt T. Edmonds, 23, West Hazleton, was charged by city police with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and three conspiracy charges. Eric J. Garrity, 31, no address listed, previously was charged by police with the same offenses.

According to court papers, both men were seen by a witness leaving an apartment building at 115-117 E. Chapel St. with copper pipe. The witness told police he followed the men to an area near South Wyoming and Buttonwood streets, where officers apprehended the men along railroad tracks, court papers state.

Police said Garrity had eight pieces of copper pipe concealed in a jacket that he threw into woods.

Wanted woman charged with retail theft

A 23-year-old West Hazleton woman allegedly stole a can of coffee drink from a Hazleton grocery store on Sept. 27 while she was on probation and wanted on other charges.

Amanda Murgitroyde was charged by city police with retail theft and public drunkenness after she allegedly concealed the $2.29 can in her sweatshirt at Giant Food, 70 S. Locust St., and tried leaving the store, court papers state.

Store loss prevention workers stopped her and called police, who found she had two active warrants from state police and also was wanted by Luzerne County Adult Probation.

A criminal history check showed Murgitroyde had three prior convictions for retail theft, court papers state.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.